Electrical flash light



April 22', 1930.

J. J. DARLINGTON ELECTRICAL FLASH LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. '7, 1928 cllparlinyian Apr-i122, 1930.

,1. J. DARLINGTON' ELECTRICAL FLASH LIGHT Filed Aug. 7, 19

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm, Jpn [inf ion Patented Apr. 22, 1930 JOSEPH J'.DARLING TON, OF WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA.

nLEermcALrLAsn LIGHT Application filed August 7, 1928. Serial No. 297,992,

This invention relates to electrical flash lights and more particularly to a flash light especially adapted for use by police, watchmen, and the like. An important object of the invention is to provide a flash light which is extensible so. that the reflector and the illuminating element may be disposed at a considerable dis tance from the body of the operator and will, therefore, give no indication to criminals of the location of the operator of a search light.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a structure of this character an arrangement such that while the light is ex 1 tensible to a considerable distance from the hand of the operator, the control switch therefor is conveniently disposed and readily accessible. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in a device of this character ermitting use of the light as an ordinary ash light and permitting a construction which will not exceed in bulk to an ap preciable extent, the ordinary flash light construction. l

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my in- 80 vention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flash light constructed in accordance with my inven-L tion, the reflector element being shown in solid lines in the position which it occupies when initially extended and in dotted lines in the position which it occupies in use;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the flash light showing the reflector in the position which it normally occupies;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fi ure 2;

igure' 4 1s a section on the line 44 of Figure 2;

igure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the reflector in its extended operative position;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing the connections employe Referrin now more particularly to the 60 drawings, t e flash light includes the usual barrel 10 and reflector 11 which is threaded upon the forward end of the barrel. The barrel is preferably tubularly formed and adjacent the end thereof to which the reflector .11 is secured has openings 12 formed therein with which communicate the inner 0 en ends of radially projecting casings 13. T ese casings are of a size to receive the usual flat flash light cell and have hinged outer ends 14 provided with snap catches 15 to permit ready insertion and removal of the cell. In the arrangement at present disclosed, these cells are adapted for connection in parallel for use with the illuminating element 15 of the light and the barrel 10 has arranged interiorly thereof an insulated connecting bus element 16 for connecting like terminals of the cells. The remaining contact elements of the cells in this arrangement may be directly electrically connected with the wall of the barrel which forms one side of the circuit. Obviously, a slight modification of this arrangement will be necessary to employ the battery in series with one another.

Adjacent the opposite end of the barrel is a suitable support 17 to which is secured one end element 18 of a tapered telescopic tube 19. The opposite end element 20 of this tube is )rovided with a frok 21 having hooked ends 22 engaging in diametrically opposed openings formed in a skirt 23 disposed inwardly of the threaded parallel engaging flange 24 of the reflector. The end and intermediate elements of the telescopic tube 9 are of frustro-conical formation, are arranged in nested relation within the barrel 10, and frictionally engage each other when in extended relation to provide a rigid support for the reflector 11. The reflector 11 is arranged at one end of this support and the barrel 10 is arranged atthe other end thereof, and the barrel constitutes a handle for the support..

It will be obvious that this fork will'cnable the disposition of the reflector, when disengaged from the barrel, at a desired angle to the telescopic tube 19 and accordingly to the barrel and, at the same time, the-reflector casing will be electrically connected to the barrel either directly or throu h this fork, the tube 19 and support 17. rranged between the end cap 25 of the barrel at the last named end thereof and the support 17 is a transversely extending axle 25 which is insulated from the barrel and supports a spring drum casing 26. This drum casing has wound upon the drum thereof which is electrically connected to the axle a lead wire 27 which is extended through the tubular tel escopic rod and secured to a contact element 28 carried by the reflector insulated from the casing thereof and adapted for engagement with the base contact of the illuminating element 15. The axle 25 is connected by-an insulated lead wire 28 with one contact 29 of a switch 30, the opposite contact of which is connected with the bus element 16.v It will be obvious that this switch which is carried by the barrel and insulated therefrom will control operation of the illuminating element 15, so that it is possible, by rotating the reflector, to release the same from the'barrel and extend the same for a considerable distance from the barrel b extending the tubular telescopic rod 19. T e reflector may then be disposed at a convenient angle an when the illuminating element is in operation, it will,

. an illuminating element carried by the reflector, and a telescopic support for the reflector permitting rotation thereof to engage or disengage the same with respect to the barrel, said supportcollapsing into the barrel, said barrel having radiallyextending casings projecting outwardly therefrom, said casings each having a hinged outer end and' constituting receptacles for battery units to energize said illuminating element.

2. In a flash li ht, a barrel, a reflector removably threaded upon one end ofthe barrel,

' an illuminating element carried by the reflecvtor, a telescopic support for the reflector per mittinlg rotation thereof to en age or disengage t 0 same with respect to t e barrel, said support collapsing into the barrel, said barrel having radially extending casings project- ;1, ing outwardly therefrom, said casings each ,4 having a hinged outer end and constituting receptacles for battery units to energize said illuminating element, the telescopic support being tubular and being electrically connected with one terminalof the illuminating element, and a lead wire connected with the second terminal of the illuminating element and extending through said support.

a spring drum, disposed within the 3. In aflash light, a barrel, a reflector removably threaded upon one end of the barrel, an illuminating element carried by the reflector, a telescopic supportfor the reflector permitting rotation thereof to engage or disengage the same with respect to the barrel, said supportcollapsing into the barrel, said barrel having radially extending casings projecting outwardly therefrom, said casings each having a hinged outer end and constituting receptacles for battery units to energize said illuminating element, the telescopic support being tubular and being electrically connected with one terminal of the illuminating element, a lead wire connected with the second terminal of the illuminating element and extending through said support, and a spring drum disposed within the barrel beneath the lower end of the support to which the lead wire is electrically and mechanically,

.stituting receptacles for battery units to energize said illuminating element, the telescopic support being tubular and bein electrically connected with one terminal 0% the illuminating element, a lead wire connected with the second terminal of the illuminating element and extending through said support,

beneath the lower end of the su port to which the lead wire is electrically and mechanically connected, and means engaged by the battery units when inserted in said casings electricallyl connecting one terminal of each thereof to t e telescopic support and the other terminal thereof to said spring drum. 1

5. In a portable flashlight, a barrel, :1. reflector releasably enga d with the forward endof the barrel, an i uminating element carried b the reflector, a telescopic tube consisting 0 end and intermediate elements of frustro-conical formation and'normally arranged in nested relation within the barrel, means securing oneendelement of said tube to the casing, and means securing the reflector-to the other end element of said tube, said last end element and the intermediate elements of said tube bein adapted when the elements are in extend relation to project through and beyond the forward end of the barrel and frictionally engage each other to (provide a rigid support for the reflector, an said barrelbeing adapted to be used as a handle for the ri d support.

6. In a portable ash light, .a barrel, a re-' arrel fiector releasably engaged-with the forward end of the barrel, an illuminating element carried by the reflector, a telescopic tube consisting of end and intermediate elements of frustro-conieal formation and normally arranged in nested relation within the barrel, the forward ends of the nested elements of said tube being spaced rearwardly from the forward end of the barrel, means securing I m the rear end of one end element of said tube to the casing, and means pivotally securing the reflector to the forward end of the other end element of said tube and normally ar-. ranged within the barrel, said last end elem ment and the intermediate elements of said tube being adapted when the elements are in extended relation to project through and beyond the forward end of the barrel and frictionally engage each other to provide a rigid 529 support for the reflector, and said barrel being adapted to be used as a handle for the rigid support.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. 25 JOSEPH J. DARLINGTON. 

